Transforming Musculoskeletal (MSK) Care with AI

Large language models (LLMs) and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are revolutionizing healthcare, unlocking powerful solutions that elevate patient care, streamline operations, and expand access to critical services. In particular, AI is rapidly and permanently transforming the Musculoskeletal (MSK) and chronic care landscape by addressing the persistent challenges of inaccessibility, poor patient engagement, high cost, and inefficiency. These advancements hold particular promise for self-insured employers, enabling them to offer better care for their workforce while optimizing access to MSK and other chronic care.

AI is Changing the MSK Care Landscape: Somatic Health

AI is unlocking unprecedented opportunities to enhance MSK care, leveraging its ability to analyze complex body movements and range of motion data in real time with clinical grade accuracy. AI tools can interpret data in seconds, not only improving diagnostic accuracy but also empowering MSK and other clinicians to deliver personalized treatment plans tailored to individual needs. Somatic Health's solution combines our cutting edge 3D movement assessment technology with Somatic's nationwide on-demand virtual and in-clinic physical therapy (PT) network. This powerful integration will not only help prevent workplace and other injuries but will also streamline employee return-to-work processes and significantly improve employee patient outcomes.

Following the 3D assessment, Somatic uses its advanced AI algorithms to immediately connect the employee to a customized library featuring 4,200 home exercises. Our studio-quality collection of videos was developed in collaboration with Stanford Medicine, Kaiser, and UCSF. Somatic also partnered with the Colorado Integrated Care Network (CICN) to pair our home exercises with the library of ICD-10 codes. Employees will directly benefit from immediate access to virtual MSK care, seamless scheduling, and remote therapeutic monitoring. Our comprehensive approach will boost employee productivity while reducing MSK and related chronic healthcare costs. Clinicians will gain an evidence-based framework to objectively assess patients and track their functional progress, enhancing the quality of care and clinical results. PTs and other providers can also film their own videos and upload them to their own video library.

Clinical Value of AI Tools

There's a growing body of research to support the medically supervised use of AI tools in a clinical setting. Harvard University conducted a significant study ↗ in collaboration with MIT economists focusing on the integration of AI in a medical setting. A key finding was that the AI system was more accurate than two-thirds of the participating radiologists. A second study ↗ sought to assess whether GPT-4 can enhance diagnostic accuracy among physicians compared to traditional resources. Participants were divided into two groups: one using conventional diagnostic resources and the other using GPT-4 assistance. GPT-4 alone demonstrated higher diagnostic accuracy than both physician groups pointing to the potential benefits of AI in clinical settings. In a Swedish trial ↗ involving mammograms for more than 80,000 women, half the scans were assessed by two radiologists, as is usual. The other half were evaluated by A.I.-supported screening first, followed by additional review by one radiologist (and in rarer instances where the A.I. determined an elevated risk, by two radiologists). The A.I.-assisted approach led to the identification of 20 percent more breast cancers while reducing the overall radiologist workload almost in half.

A more recent study ↗ focused on the impact of LLMs on clinical reasoning, the process by which physicians gather and synthesize clinical data to diagnose and manage medical problems. The study concluded that the LLMs excelled in tasks requiring complex critical thinking, such as diagnosis and management. These studies underscore the intricacies of integrating AI into clinical settings and highlight the need for further investigation. At the same time, these studies demonstrate that AI can be used to support the accurate clinical assessment of MSK conditions, and they underscore the importance of developing strategies for effective human-AI collaboration in healthcare. Somatic Health is positioned to help employers take full advantage of these exciting developments.

Introducing Somatic's AI-Powered Health Guide: "MoveGPT"

AI tools are also transforming how MSK and other care providers will engage and communicate with patients offering them clear and actionable insights about their conditions, and enabling them to make informed decisions and more actively participate in their own recovery. Employees will also benefit from AI-powered dashboards that offer real-time visibility into care progress and outcomes, fostering a trusted, transparent, and accountable healthcare ecosystem. Imagine each employee having a dedicated, AI-powered personal “coach” (called MoveGPT) to guide them through every step of their MSK care journey. By providing daily and on-demand support, MoveGPT helps users stay actively engaged and motivated throughout their recovery journey. With personalized feedback, reminders, and real-time insights, the Somatic virtual coach fosters a sense of accountability and empowerment. The result? Improved adherence to MSK treatment plans, reduced cost, enhanced outcomes, and a more engaged, healthier workforce. This innovative approach to patient support drives up engagement while improving outcomes and lowering the cost of MSK care.

AI is reshaping MSK care by delivering solutions that address cost, access, and engagement challenges head-on. For self-insured employers and their TPAs, embracing these technologies represents not only an investment in workforce health but also a strategic advantage in managing healthcare expenses and driving productivity. The time to act is now! Somatic is helping to revolutionize the historic approach to MSK care by partnering with AI innovators and best-in-class clinicians wherever and whenever needed. Together, we can build a healthier, more productive future for your workforce. Contact Somatic Health today to schedule a consultation and discover how Somatic Health can revolutionize your workplace health. Let's create a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce—together.